Ice-cutting machine



Jan. 6, 1931. B. McDANlELs ET AL V 1,787,636

ICE CUTTING MACHINE FiledJan. 6, 1926 4 sheds-sheet 1 Jan. 6, 1931.

B. MGDANIELS ET AL ICE CUTTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 w w 49.0

Filed Jan. 6, 1926 Jan. 6, 1 931. B. MCDANIELS ET AL 1,787,636

ICE CUTTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 6( 1926 4 Sheets--Shee'l 5 Jan- 6, 1931. B. MCDANIELS ET AL 1,787,636

, ICE CUTTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 6, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 am? J yl'*`a.'tented Jan. e, iSSl y'Ia',Eisriin'r'i McnANIELs AND WILLIAM c. BROOKS, or LovELI., MAINE Ion-CUTTING MACHINE Appli-cation sied January 6, ieee.l serial No. 79,640.

rPhis linvention relates to machinesiused on lakes, ponds jandxrivers forcutting ice into blocks of suitable size and shape for packing in-ice houses. Y V' i In order to prevent ice from melting over 4as long a period of time as possible, and for economy in space in `packing in ice houses,

v close orcompact packing is essential, and to this end it ishighlyimportant that the ice shouldr be cutinto blocks having square corners andy smooth sides free from depressions or surfaceprotuberances or projections which resultfrom imperfect methods of cutting, rendering it necessary to break off the strips or blocks Which are not completely severed by .the cutters.

In ice cutting machines as heretofore con- Y sti-noted, rotary saws are used alternately, one for cutting a longitudinal strip Vor strips and the other for cutting` the strips into blocks while the longitudinal `strip-cutting saw is inactive, and the Work done in this way is unsatisfactoryv because the circular saws do not completely sever the strips from the main body of ice or the blocks from the strips, thus rendering'it necessary to use hand tools to break off the strip or block, and as a result the -linished blocks are left With crevices or depressionsor surface protuberances or projections which prevent `close packing, and render -it necessary, in the case of surface projections, totrim the rough edges caused by breaking, in,k order that the `'blocks maybe closely packed. T

The ,primary objects of our invention are to overcome the foregoing objections, Which are incident to the'use of machines as heretoforel constructed usingrotary saws, and to provide a motoroperated machine of ther character referred to having reciprocating saivs,one of Which is used'for cutting longitudinal strips or slabs of ice from a large body A or field ofice over which the machine is drawn or` propelled,` and the other for simultaneously cutting the strips transversely of the direction or line of movement of the machine, so as to form blocks of suitable size and shape for packing Without crevices or.v furrows which form airy spaces that tend to hasten the melting of the ice, and Without surface projections Mwhich `prevent close packing and thereby shorten the periodv of time during which the ice may be kept from melting While in storage, i

Another object is to 'provide a simple, elitcient and `durable icecutting machine having reciprocating saws which operate simultaneously and. continuously, except for the moment-ary period of time it takes to move the machine foriv'ard a sufficient distance to bring the cross-cut saw into properposition. for cutting a cake or block of thev desired length from the strip cut by the other saw; this being accomplished Without stopping the operation `of the strip-cutting saw and Without stopping the reciprocating movement of either saw. f n

The invention Willlirst be hereinafter'more particularly described, With reference to the accompanying drawings, Which 'are to be taken as a part ofthis specification, and then pointed out in.` the claims at the end of the description.

ln said drawings, Fig. l is a plan vievv of an lice cutting machineembodying our invention; the driving engine being removed to eX- pose the clutch mechanism thereunder;

Fig. 2 is a rear endelevation of the machine, showing'the cross-cut saw in its normal position;

Fig. 3 is a'vievv similar to that shown in FigfQ, showing the cross-cut saw in its initial cutting position with its cuttingedge facing the outer edge ofthe ice field or a longitudinal strip to be cut into blocks;

Fig. 4L is a side elevation of the machine, showing the strip-cutting` saw in its normal position; y

Fig.. 5 is a detail transverse sectional View 90 taken on the line 5-5 of Fig, 1, looking in the Adirection of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail plan view'of` partsishown in Fig. 5, partly broken away;

Figs .7 andS are fragmentary detail views showing opposite sides of a-manually-op era te d n f ling means;

sliding block and associated parts connecting 1t with mechanically-operatedclutch-control- Fig. 9 isa detail sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7

Fig Y10 lis a-fragmentary diagrammatic plan view of parts of the' manually and mechanically operated clutch controlling means; and Fig. 11 1s a fragmentary Y planviewf ofthe front end portion of the machine, partly broken away, showing anY attachmentfor cut-" l over the ice fieldA as hereinafter described; 4

denotes the casing offa gasoline engine or motor mounted on a forwardly extended portion of the machine frame for imparting motion to the main driving shaft 5, bymeans of an endless beltconnecting a pulley 61L on the engine crank-shaft with a relatively large pulley 5c (Figs. 1 and 2) on the shaft 5. This shaft has a sprocket wheel 5? on one endv connected by an endless belt or sprocket chain .7 with a sprocket wheel 7a idling on a countershaft 7b (Fig. 4) which carries a drum 8 on which is wound a cable 9, the free end of which is to be secured to a fixture a suitable distance ahead or in advance of the-.machine for moving it over the ice field intermittently, or step by step, the required distance for cutting blocks of ice of a predetermined length. The shaft 5V has fixed thereon a beveled gear wheel 5b (Fig. 1*) and has secured on itsk outer end a` crank-arm or eccentric 10;. the gear 5b being in mesh with a similar beveled gear 11111 fixed on a shaft 11. The shaft 11 is ournaled in suitable bearings therefor secured to horizontal base members of the frame structure and has secured on its outer end a Y crank-arm or eccentric 12; The crank arm 10 is pivoted to the lower end of alvertically dislongitudinal cutting blade 15, which, as showmhas a saw-toothed edge. rEhe cranlrarm v12 is Vpivoted to one end of a vertically disposed connecting bar or rod 16 (Fig. 2),

rthe upper end of which is pivoted to a substantially horizontally disposed vertically swinging lever 1'7, which is fulcrumed at one end, as at 17a, to a slidable block 18 mounted in a suitable guideway on the machine frame to permit lateral movement thereof and has its otherend pivoted, as at 17h, to an upright member or long shank 19'aL of a transverse cutting blade 19of ordinary saw-toothed form.

The shank a of the cutter blade l5 is fitted in suitable guides on the-upright frame structure,as"at V15b and 150,' permitting the shanlrtol slide vertically and swing laterally on its pivotal connection with the swinging lever I14, so as to allow the saw-toothed blade 15 to move baclrwardly under the tension of aspring20a carried by a rod 20, and tending to resistbaclrward movement ofthe blade. The rod 20 is pivoted at one'end to the shank of the blade 15 and extends forwardly therefrom through a guide ZOJ on the machine frame which forms anabutment for one end of the spring 20a,ithe other end of which bears against a collar or nut 2Oc screwed on the V free end of the rod 20, 'so that the saw is permitted to swing Y backwardly under the tension of thespring into anl inclined position as'the machine moves forward a sufiicient distancekv to advance the transverseor crossc'ut saw 19 far enough to begin cutting off a block of ice'of-the desired length, whereupon the machine proper will momentarily come to rest and the cross-cut saw will cut ofi' a block of ice while the longitudinal or stripcutting saw is cutting its way through the ice by force of the recoil of the spring. When the cross-cut saw has done its work, the machine will be caused to move forward again under the pull of the cable as hereinafter described a distance equal to the length of another bloclr, the` strip-cutting saw havingl meanwhile reached a substantially vertical position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The driving mechanism is adapted to impart a continuous reciprocating movement to both the strip-cutting saw and the cross-cut saw,`but the cross-cut saw'operates to cut only intermittently, while the stripcutting has continuous cutting operation with the periodical forward movement of the machine under pull of the cable, each time bringing the machine to a point at which the crosscut saw is to operate. From that point until the machine again moves forward, a continuance of its cutting action is effected by the e recoil of the spring 20a while the machine is momentarily standing still and the cross-cut saw is in action. When the machine moves forward, the cross-cut saw is thrown into an outward position as shown in Fig. 2', in order that it may not come into Contact with the ice lou Effi

but 'may -move forward through clear watera distance equal to the lengthlof a 'block to be cut, whereupon it is'brought 'again intocon-V tact to sever a block' by force of the recoil 1 of a spring acting thereonas Vhereinafter desired.' The shank r19a of the saw 19 vis ver tically slidably fitted insuitable guides V19b and 19C on av lateral extension laof the upright frame structure so as to permit a vertically reciprocating movement. ofthe saw Y spring will exert sutlicient force to cause the.

andyat the same time permit the saw to vbe swung backwardly on its pivotalconnection with the'swinginglever 17 toward one side ofA the machine into the inclined positionshown in Fig. y3 again-st the pressure' of a spring 21V carried byla rod 21 pivoted at one endto the shank of 'the' saw jblade 19 and extending therefrom laterally through an aperture orv guide 2lb' at the lower end of a rod or bar.

18@ dependingfrQm the sliding block 18. The rodor bar 18ais held in an upright position by means of'a brace 1,80,k connecting` it with the outer end ofthe sliding block and one endfof the spring 21a bears' against the lower end of said rod 185i while itsotherend bears against a. nutor vcollar 2lc `screwed on ythe free'end of the rod, so that when the block 18 is shoved or pulledfoutwardly to throw the i saw into an inclined lposition'against the resistance of the spring; 21a, the recoilfof the saw withjcont'inuing reciprocation'to ycut a block of ice from the strip-severed by thesaw 15' and thereupon lt-he operator restores the' block 18 to its normal position. A suitable guide-way in which'the sliding block is fitted is provided on the upright portion of the ma'- chine frame by means of metal strips 22, or thenlike, secured to horizontal bars 23 of the frame structure, so that the block may be moved laterally and outwardly by the operator, thereby throwing theV saw into the inclined position shown in Fig. 3 of the` drawings, through its connections with the sliding block; In the latter position of the saw'its cutting'edge` is presented to the strip of ice severed by the saw 15 atapoint determined.

by the distancevthe machine Vis moved while the saw is held inthe inclined position under y the tension ofthe spring acting thereon. For

the purpose of shiftingthefblocl 18 froml itsl innermost to its outermostposition and there-y by shifting the saw 19 into'theinclined posi- V tion `shown in' Fig. 3, the block has .pivotally secured thereto as vshown in Fig. 8 a manually operable lever 24 which may be grasped by the operator and raised to releaseit from the notch *in the underlying,metal` bar and then.pulled toward thatjjside yof the machine.

I (to theleft'in Fig. 2) on whichthe operator is standing;k thereby drawing upon'` the lever 17 and through its connections with thesaw throwinguthe latter outwardly into clear water, and.' as the reciprocating movement of the saw is continued the retractile force or tension ofthe spring 21a, will force thesaw tofcut its waythrough the strip ofice severed sliding block may be held in a tiXed'position.

with the saw in either an upward or an inclined positioned by providing a series of notchesin the lower metal bar 23 of the guideway-in which the block is fitted7 as shown in Fig; 8',` so that in either the upright or inclined position" of the saw the lever 24 may drop. down into one of the notches for holding the sliding block stationary until released by the operator. In 3 of the drawings the slid-y ingblock is shown inithe position it occupies when the cross-cut saw'is ready to begin cutting action; XVhen the cross cut is completed the operator moves the sliding block into the positionshown in Fig. 2, thereby causing the lever 24 to engage theseco'nd notch and lock the cutting oifsaw out in open water so that the machine may move forward a predetermined' distance equal rto the length of a block tofbe cut, andthereupon the sliding block is again thrown into the position shown in Fig. 3 to enable the cross-cut saw to cut off another predetermined length two notchesonly are necessary, but if desired additional notches may be provided into which the'lever'24 may drop to holdthebloch stationary for cutting blocksofiee of' different lengths. The drum shaft 7b hassecured thereon a clutch y7X, of any suitable construction (not forming per se any part of this invent-ion), one 'member of which is actuated rby a swinging lever 25v pivoted atene end to a lower frame bar and .i

extendingrearwardly therefrom and having secured thereto intermediate its ends a guide rod or bolt26 which projects through a perforated plate or bracket'3b'depending from a: lower horizontal frame bar 2 and has there A on a spring 26a which bears at one end against block of ice.y In cutting blocks of ice ofv a 1` movement `of 'aswinging tappet'arm 29a lined' `ona shaft 29, which is rockably securedin fbi frame member 2 and has its short arm pivoted to the lever 25 so that when the long arm of the lever27 is moved outwardly it will throw thefree endY of the lever 25 inwardly and thereby engage the clutch member carried by the lever 25 with the Vclutch member carried by the. drum shaft. When the lever 27 isreleased by the operator,'a spring 27 acting thereon will restore the lever to normal position sothatthe clutch will disengage. When the clutcli;me1nbers areengaged, the. 'continuously driven shaft' will cause the drum shaft to revolve sufficiently to advance the machinea distance equal to the length of a block of ice to be cut by the saw 19, whereupon, as the lever 27 is released, the machine will bebrought again to a standstill while 'the saw 19 is cutting off a block of ice, An

upwardly inclined rod; or bar 28-pivoted at one end tothe lever 25 extends therefrom overa lower frame bar lb and carries a pin 28al which is arranged normally in thepat-h of suitable bearings therefor on Athe machine frame and carries on itsprear end at the back of the machine a swinging arm 30 which, in normal position, is raised above the surfaceA of the ice, but isV adapted to be thrown down into the position shown in Fig. 2, so that it may contact with the end of the strip of ice that is being cut by the longitudinal saw as the machine is moved forward to bring the cross-cut saw into position to cut ablock of f ice. In Vthe latter position said armV 30` acts as a trip Adrawing the shaft 29 rearwardly in its bearings'as the machine moves forwardly to the extent indicated in dotted lines in Fig.`

Y 10 of the drawings, or an extent equal to the length of ice block to be cut, thereby releasing the bar 28 (by moving the arm 29a awayfrom pinA 28a) Vand vpermitting said bar to be returned to normal position by the retractile force or recoil of one or both of the springs .1 f 26a and 27a, acting, respectively, directly on the lever and on its operating lever 27 to disengage the clutch and momentarily stop the forward movement of the machine. yThe shaft 29 and tappet arm or lever 29ZL thereon may be restored to the full-line position shown in Fig.l 10 by the recoil of a spring 29e connectingthe tappet arm with a fixedjpart of the machine frame, vas shown in Fig. 1. Fixed onthe shaft 29 near the rear end of the machine is a lever 29c carrying at its upper or outer end a lateral pin or linger 29d, in position to be struck by the bar 18a on movement of the slide 18 from the position shown; in

Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 2. lThis action swings-the lever 29c and results in thestop arm 30 being lowered so that it` may ride along the longitudinal edge of the body of ice to be cut, and in addition (through the arm 29ak actingon-bar 28) throws the clutchv inte operative position to advance the entire machine,I @At a given point, namely, the last j crossscutofgthe saw19, the. stop arm 30 strikes the transverse edge ofl the next blockl to vbe cut, andrstops, thereby effectingrearward sliding movement of theshaft 29, with levers 29g and 29C so that the lever 28 will be freed to slide on the frame bar lbrunder tension'of the spring26a. This action releases the clutch and stops 'the forward movement of the -machine. n At thispoint fthe lever 24 is moved toward thel operator (or to the left) to the position'. shown in Fig.; 3, and consequently angling-or inclining the saw 19 foracontact with the ice in its reciprocating movement inA cutting position. Y

For the lpurpose of guiding the machine in a straight line across the ice field, we provide a grooving device at the frontconsistingof-a shaftBl-carrying toothed disks 32,

one at each side of the machine frame; said shaft being. journaled in suitable bearings provided therefor by brackets 33 projecting forwardly from a lowerjor-base member of the frame structure; said disks being adapted to cut grooves in the ice which will serve as guides for the runners 3 and 3a as the machine is drawn across the ice field. The shaft 31 is Vdriven by means of a sprocket chain 34, orV the like', connecting a sprocket wheel 35 on the shaftwith a sprocket wheel 86 on the motor shaft, so that as the machine the specific construction'and arrangement of parts illustrated and described.

' Having thus described our invention, what we claim `as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

V1. 'An '5 ice cutting machine comprising incombination, a clutch controlled reeling means forr drawing the machine forwardly along the surface of a body of ice, a reciproeating cutter arranged to cut'a strip from the ice body as the machine moves forward, a reciprocating cutter arranged to cut blocks from the cut strip, in periods of momentary arrest lof the machine, operating mechanism for. continuously reciprocating Said cutters, in upright andinclined positions and whether the machine is atv rest or moving, and manual means for interrupting the cutting action of one of the cutters while simultaneously'bringing the other cutter into play.

2. lAn ice cutting machine movable along' thel surface. of a body'of ice and comprising "a vertically disposed reciprocable cutter arranged to present its toothed cutting edge to s the ice in thek direction of its movement for a yinto cutting action.

cutting strips therefrom, a vertically disposed reciprocable cutter arranged to cut the Vstrips into blocks transversely to the first named cutter, means including a driven shaft f and eccentries for imparting a continuous reciprocating movement to each of said cutters, and means including` a shifting sliding block for intermittently.interrupting the cutting action of one of the cutters at thev will of the operator and to bring the other cutter into play.

SyIn an ice cutting kmachine having a clutch controlledy reeling means for moving it alongthe surface of a body of ice, a pair fof reciprocating cutters, one arranged to cut astrip of `ice extending longitudinally in the direction,ofzmovement `of Vthe machine and the rkother disposedin a vertical plane substantiallyV at rightangles to the first cutter yso as to cut the strip transversely of the direction of machine/movement into blocks of a. predetermined length, means including driven shafts, eccentries and connecting levers `for imparting a continuous reciprocating movement to said cutters, and means including al shifting slide-block controllable by the operator `andelfecting operation of the aforesaid clutch/for intermitently interruptarranged to outa strip of ice from said body Yfingthe cuttingaction of one of the cutters yses ' a continuouslydriven reciprocating saw arranged to cut transversely yto the first named saw for cutting the strip into blocks, mechanism including driven shafts, eccentries and connecting levers for imparting-a continuous recriprocating movement to said saws, and means including a manually shifted slide-block for intermittently interrupting the cutting action of one of the saws while causing the other saw to be brought into cutting action.

5., In an ice cutting machine having a reciprocating cutter presenting its cutting edge to the ice in the direction of the machine movement for cutting the ice into strips, a

5 reciprocating cutter arranged to present its Y cutting edge to the ice at an angle to the cutting line of the first cutter for cutting the Vice'st'rips transversely into blocks, means 4for impartingl a continuous reciprocating movement to said cutters, means including ka clutch-controlled reeling device'fo-r draw- -ing the machine forwardlyV along an ice field and trip mechanism effecting operation of the clutch for automatically interrupting the forward-movement of the machine Vafter advancing .-a v--predetermined .extent equal to the.

second one to be brought ing shaftand swinging arm memberselfecting automatic .tripping 4of said forward --rdrawingmeans when the machine'has advanced a predetermined eXtent,and means including a shifting block for throwing the transverse cutting saw'4v into -cuttingb action when the machineis brought to rest.- n

'7. Anice cuttingmachine having a pair .of vertically ,reciprocable sawy blades each fhavinga long shank movably supported in, guideson the machine frame so as to permit abackward swinging movement of one blade inthe `.direction in which rthe `machine v,is drawn and aV backward swinging movement of ftherother blade transversely of the line of machine movement, one Lofy saidfblades being lting action, meansengaging behind theA cut ice strip and effecting operation of the .clutch for automatically tripping, said reeling device when the machine has advanced a predetermined distance, means controlled by the Yoperator for. throwing the block-cutting blade into cutting action when the machine is brought to. rest Yand means associated with eachl of the-cutting blades serving to yieldingly resistv backward movement and to assist the cuttingoperation thereof as they are brought alternately into play.

8. vIn an ice cutting'machinemovable along the surface of a body of ice; a pair of vertivcally fslidably movable saw-blades, one arranged `to cut a-strip o-f ice extending longitudinally inthe direction of movement of the Vmachine and they other arranged to cut the strip transversely intok blocks of predetermined lengths, means including a manually shifted slide-block for throwing the transverse cutting blade out of 'cutting position while*` the machine is moving forward and for bringing it into cutting position when the machine is'l brought momentarily torest without interruptingits slide movement, means :,ffQndraWing:theimachine forwardly wththe :distance equal'to theA desiredA :lengths of strip-cutting blade-incutting'action on the Y ice, and means tripping saidl forward drawing means for bringing the machine to rest in successive stages` of advance a predetermined blocks. i n,

9. An ice cutting machine comprising in `combination, means for impelling the ma- Q of'advance a predetermined distance equal to Y chine over thasurface of a body of ice; means for arresting the machine in successive stages theflength of blocks to be cut; a pivotally supported vreciprocating cutter arranged to swing forward and back on its pivotal sup,-r port; mea-ns yieldingly resistingbackward Y movement of the cutter,- said resisting means serving to store cutter operating power while the machine is momentarily at vrest;`and `v mechanism for imparting tothe cutter a c011- tinuousreciprocating movement for cutting off a strip' of ice asthe machine is moved foraward in successive stages over the ice field.

l0; An ice-cutting machine comprising in combination, means for impelling the machine `over thesurface of a body of ice and means controlling the same for arresting the Vmachine in successive stages'of,v advance a Vof blocks to be: cut; av reciprocating cutter: ar-

predetermined distance; equal to the length ranged to Acut a strip of ice from the body Ythereof'over which the machine is moved; a

reciprocating cutter arranged to cut transversely tothe first 'namedf cutter when the machine is arrested soas to cut the strip into blocks; means for imparting continuous reciprocating movement tothe two cutters; andl manually actuated means including a shift-block for throwing the transverse cut- `ter intoj cutting action when the machine is j arrested. A Y

11; An ice-cutting machine comprisingin combination, means for iinpelling the machine over the surface of a body of ice means controllingthe same forga'rresting the machine in successive stages of advance a predetermined distance equal to the length of blocks to be cut; a reciprocatingA cutter arranged to cut a strip from the body of the lice as the machine is moved thereover;' a

in a planef'angular to the lirst named cutter into cutting position'when` the machineis cross-cut reciprocating lcutter arranged to act for cutting the strip into blocks; means inzcl'uding eccentric-driven levers for imparting continuous. reciprocating movementto said'c'utters; and means including a manu l'ally shifted slide-block for throwing the cross-cutv saw'foutof cutting position duringv thekforwardinovement of the machine and' brought to rest.

l2. An ice-cutting machine comprising inl combination, means for impelling the inachine forwardly over Aa Vbody of ice; means "controlling and tripping 'said impelling means to arrest the machine in successive" stages stages of Yadvance a predetermineddistance equal to thel desired length of blocks to be cut; a A'reciprocating saw adapted -to cut the ice into strips as the machine is moved forward thereover Y said saw beine' verticall 7 -movably supported on theV macnine frame so as to Vadapt it to swing bac'lwardly into a-n inclined position as the machine moves forward; means for imparting a continuous `:reciprocating movement to said saw; anda' meansv for yieldingly resisting backward movement thereof, said means serving also *to'store power utilized lin the saw cutting action.

-An ice-cutting machine comprising in combination, means; for impelling the inachine VforwardlyY over abody of ice; means ,:ontroll-ingand Vmeans tripping said impellingmeaiis to arrest'the machine in successive stages of v 'advance a lpredetermined distance equal to the length of blocks to be cut; a plurality of reciprocating saws, one arranged tov cut ka strip of ice, as the machine is moved forward and another arranged to cut the strip transversely into blocks when thev machine is momentarily arrested, each of said saws being vertically mo'vably supported on the machine frame soas to permit it to swing backward into an Yinclined cutting position; means including eccentric-driven bars for imparting continuous reciprocating movement to said saws; and means associated with each 'saw lfor yieldingly resisting backward movement thereof, said 1ast-mentioned means serving also to assist lthe sawv cutting actions and to hold them down to their work. lll. An vice-cutting machine comprising in combination, a continuously driven .reciprocating saw for cutting strips ofV ice from an ice lieldover which the machine Vis drawn;

a vcontinuously driven reciprocating saw arranged toy cut the strips transversely into blocks as the machine is momentarily arrested;'means including a manually Yshifted slide-block for throwing the transversencut- Ating saw into cuttingposition when the ma` chine is at rest and for throwing it out of cutting position when the machine is moving; a reeling devicefor drawing themachine forwaidly'o'ver the ice field; and means includev ing an element engaging behind thecut strips `to arrest the machine in successive stages of advance a predetermined distance equal to the'lengths of` blocks tofbe cut; a pair of reciprocating saws, one adapted to cut a strip from the body of ice as the machine is moved forward thereover and the otheradapted to cut the strips transversely into blocks as the machine is brought to rest; means including a manually shifted slide-block for thro-wing the transverse cutting saw into cutting position when the machine is at rest and for throwing it out of cutting position' during' movement of the machine; means for imparting continuousA reciprocating movement to each of the saws; and means associated with each saw for yieldingly resisting rearward movement thereof and holding it under tension in cutting action.

In' testimony whereof we aiiiX our signatures.

BENNETT MGDANIELS. WILLIAM C. BROOKS. 

